Many are surprised to learn how infrequently Melania Trump has been at the White House since her husband assumed the presidency.
Donald Trump took the oath of office for a second term as the 47th President of the United States on January 20 of this year. As the President recently crossed the 100-day mark of his term, questions have arisen about First Lady Melania’s conspicuous absence.
The 55-year-old former model chooses to maintain a low profile and has scarcely been in the public eye in recent months. Notably, she was absent during her husband’s campaign events.
Melania Trump also did not attend her husband’s court appearances. Recently, she was seen at the funeral of the late Pope Francis, just a day before her birthday, and at the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn.
She did make a rare public appearance in March to deliver a speech urging lawmakers to address ‘revenge porn’ and AI-generated intimate images that harm young women and girls. Another appearance was on May 8, during the unveiling of a postage stamp honoring former First Lady Barbara Bush and a ceremony for military moms.
These limited appearances have left people wondering about her whereabouts.
According to The New York Times, Melania Trump has visited the White House only a few times in her husband’s 108 days in office, totaling less than 14 days. The estimate might even be ‘generous,’ though her absence may not be as controversial as it appears.
Although over 100 days into his term, President Trump also hasn’t spent much time at the White House. Instead, he has traveled frequently to his personal properties like Mar-a-Lago or Trump National Doral in Florida.
NBC News reported that Trump has spent parts of 40 days away from the presidential office, including 12 of 14 weekends at his own properties.
The report mentions that on nine out of those 14 weekends, he was at Mar-a-Lago, engaging in golf activities in West Palm Beach or Jupiter.
The White House serves as both an office for the President and a residence for his family.
Historically, various First Families have enjoyed living in the residence, transforming it into a familial space. For instance, President Theodore Roosevelt’s children famously caused chaos, while later additions included a sandbox for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s grandchildren, a treehouse for Jimmy Carter’s daughter, and a trampoline for the Kennedy children.
It has also hosted significant events like a wedding for President Lyndon B. Johnson’s daughter Lynda in 1967 and a senior prom for President Gerald R. Ford’s daughter in 1975.
Unlike previous First Ladies, Melania reportedly does not reside on the presidential grounds. She prefers living at Trump Tower in New York, where her son Barron also resides and attends college.
In an interview with Fox & Friends before Trump’s return to the Oval Office, she expressed ambivalence about living arrangements, noting that she knows “where we will be living” and referring to her first-time experience as “challenging.”
“But this time, I have everything. I have plans I could move in. I already packed, I already selected the, you know, the furniture that needs to go in. So, it’s very different,” Melania said.
She also mentioned that Barron would “come and visit.”
Melania also indicated in the same interview that she did not receive “much support” during her husband’s first term for her “Be Best” initiative against cyberbullying, but she remains eager to expand the program.
“I gave him my advice, and sometimes he listens. Sometimes he doesn’t and that’s okay,” Melania said regarding her relationship with her husband.
Regarding her presence at the White House, Melania suggested that she would be wherever necessary.
“I will be in the White House,” she stated. “And, you know, when I need to be in New York, I will be in New York. When I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be in Palm Beach.”
“But my first priority is, you know, to be a mom, to be a first lady, to be a wife. And once we are in on January 20, you serve the country,” she added.
“Maybe some people they see me as just the wife of the president, but I am standing on my own two feet. Independent. I have my own thoughts. I have my own yes and no. I don’t always agree with what my husband is saying or doing, and that’s okay,” she concluded.